Uzbekistan

BBC Country Profile, 4 June 2001

In 1991 Uzbekistan emerged as a sovereign country after more than a
century of Russian rule - first as part of the Russian empire and then
as a component the Soviet Union. Positioned on the ancient Great Silk
Road between Europe and Asia, cities such as Bukhara and Samarkand
once flourished as trade and cultural centres. In recent years the
country has been trying to re-establish its national identity and
build independent statehood.

OVERVIEW

The most populated Central Asian country and with the largest armed
forces in the region, Uzbekistan is believed to be seeking regional
leadership. It is seen as the most authoritarian country in the
region, with no real opposition inside the country, a restrained media
and a tightly controlled economy.

Since the emergence of radical Islamist groups reportedly based in
Tajikistan and Afghanistan, Uzbekistan has been facing security
problems. The groups are said to be aiming to overthrow the secular
government and set up an Islamic state. This has made the Uzbek
leadership the most zealous advocate of tougher security measures in
the region.

President Islam Karimov's uncompromising policies have created
friction between Uzbekistan and the other Central Asian
countries. Uzbekistan opposes any moves towards closer political
integration on post-Soviet territory and has pulled out of the
Commonwealth of Independent States' collective security treaty.

LEADERS

President: Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov

Islam Karimov: keeps a tight grip on
the country

Born in 1938 in the central Uzbek town of Samarkand, Islam Karimov
worked in a variety of senior political and government positions in
Soviet Uzbekistan, including as finance minister and first secretary
of the Uzbek Communist Party Central Committee, before becoming
president of the republic in 1990. After the collapse of the USSR in
1991, he was re-elected president.

Since independence, Karimov has been trying to expand the country's
international trade while retaining tight domestic political control
and repressing an active political and religious opposition.

Prime Minister: Otkir Sultonov

Foreign Minister: Abdulaziz Komilov

Interior Minister: Zohirjon Almatov

Defence Minister: Qodir Ghulomov

Finance Minister : Mamarizo Normurodov

MEDIA

Nearly all media outlets are pro-government and generally do not
report opposing points of view. President Karimov occasionally
reiterates that he wants a critical and independent media. He has
threatened senior officials with the sack for "avoiding the press" and
has said that the media "should not come under administrative
pressure".

Most newspapers carry almost the same official reports and are
therefore often criticized for lacking in diverse content.